Revisional Powers Must Be Exercised Within Reasonable Time Even in Fraud Cases; Merits Cannot Justify Inordinate Delay: High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh

The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh delivered an important judgment protecting settled land rights by quashing an order passed by the Financial Commissioner (Revenue), which had reopened and annulled decades-old revenue mutations. The Court held that even in cases alleging fraud, revisional powers cannot be exercised after an unreasonable delay, especially when rights of third parties have already crystallised. Bench and Judicial Authority The matter was decided…